LAS VEGAS (AFLWA) – Even though the Arizona Rattlers defeated San Jose, they couldn't knock the SaberCats off the No. 1 ranking in the latest Top 8 Poll, which was conducted by the Arena Football League Writers Association (AFLWA).

San Jose (10-3) easily maintained the top position despite the 58-41 loss, receiving 17 first-place votes and 163 points. However, the New Orleans VooDoo's 45-40 loss to the Orlando Predators allowed three other teams to creep closer to San Jose. New Orleans (9-4) fell from No. 2 to No. 5.

Taking the VooDoo's spot at No. 2 was the Chicago Rush (9-4), which moved up two places after beating the Grand Rapids Rampage 63-35. Chicago received one first-place vote and 124 points. The remaining three first-place votes went to Arizona (9-5), which had 116 points to advance two spots to No. 3.

The Colorado Crush (9-4), which had the week off, fell one place to No. 4. Advancing from No. 8 to No. 6 were the Austin Wranglers (8-5), who defeated the Dallas Desperados 48-36.

The New York Dragons (8-5) remained No. 7 after topping the Carolina Cobras 61-39. Moving into the poll at No. 8 was the Tampa Bay Storm (7-7), which knocked the Los Angeles Avengers (7-6) out the poll with a 63-55 victory. Los Angeles was No. 6.

In this week's games, San Jose is at the Las Vegas Gladiators (6-7), Dallas (6-7) is at Chicago, Arizona is at the Detroit Fury (4-9), Colorado is at the Indiana Firebirds (7-7), the Georgia Force (5-8) is at New Orleans, Orlando (7-6) is at Austin and Los Angeles is at New York. Tampa Bay is off.

The AFLWA, founded at the start of the 2004 season, is a national organization made up of media members who cover the Arena Football League. Mark Anderson of the Las Vegas Review-Journal is the AFLWA's founder and executive director.